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Automatic completion of media recordingAutomatic completion of media recording description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080112686, Automatic completion of media recording. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001]The present invention relates generally to recording systems and more particularly to a system and methodology for enabling recording of programs which continue beyond assigned time slots. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]Digital Recording of multi-media programs has become relatively common. The typical manner to have the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) record selected programs is to set up a list of programs to be recorded from a program guide. The DVR is then responsible for reading its internal programming guide and recording the program from the start time to the end time that is associated or assigned with each program. At the end of the assigned time slot for the program being recorded, the DVR stops recording the program even though, in many cases, especially sporting events and other live or interrupted events, the program may continue beyond its assigned time slot. In such cases, the ending of the program is not recorded and the viewer will miss the end of the program when it is replayed. [0003]Thus, there is a need for an improved system and methodology for enabling a user to continue to record a designated program even when that program runs-over its assigned time slot. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004]A method and system are provided in which metadata associated with programs selected to be recorded are monitored in real time and the recording begins and ends when the selected title is detected from actual video header information regardless of the time slot within which the program is scheduled to run. In one embodiment, the recording of the program begins when a selected title has been detected and continues until it is detected that the program has actually ended, and the header title information has changed, regardless of the scheduled ending time or time slot within which the program is scheduled to be played. Another feature enables the recording of a designated program beyond its assigned time slot even when there is insufficient storage space on the user's DVR or other storage device. If one DVR, for example, is unable to perform the continued recording of a selected program beyond the program's assigned time slot, other interconnected DVR devices are accessed to record one or more portions of the selected program. When a user desires a playback of the recording, the recorded program is played-back from the various networked multiple storage resources, each of which may contain one or more portions of the recorded program. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0005]A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment is considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: [0006]FIG. 1 is an illustration showing an exemplary display device coupled to a digital video recorder (DVR) control unit; [0007]FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing several of the major components of a DVR control unit in an exemplary implementation of the present invention; [0008]FIG. 3 is an illustration of an exemplary program guide useful in explaining an operation of the present invention; [0009]FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary operation of the present invention; [0010]FIG. 5 is an illustration of several DRV units connected in a networked configuration; [0011]FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary sequence for finding storage space in networked DVR units; [0012]FIG. 7 shows an exemplary database which may be used in connection with the present invention; [0013]FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary sequence of operations in assembling portions of a recorded program from multiple control unit memory locations; and [0014]FIG. 9 is a continuation of FIG. 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0015]It is noted that devices which are shown in block or schematic form in the drawings are generally known to those skilled in the art, and are not specified to any greater extent than that considered necessary as illustrated, for the understanding and appreciation of the underlying concepts of the present invention and in order not to obfuscate or distract from the teachings of the present invention. [0016]There is herein presented, an automated way of recording the completion of programs which start early or late or run-past their assigned time slot using a small module/program that interrogates the cable/broadcast frame marker (or meta-tag). In an example, the meta-tag title of a program is stored and the recording of that program will begin when a selected title is detected, and continue until a new title is detected for the currently presented program. When a program over-runs its assigned time slot, the over-run portion is automatically stored in a buffer which will automatically be accessed and appended when the recorded program is played back by a user. [0017]Each digital broadcast contains header information about the program that is being delivered to the user via a control unit or "set-top box". The header contains various information about the program--such as title, content provider, frame marker and flags for enabling Digital Rights Management. The recorder will record the scheduled program until it receives the new header information for the next program. This means that the recording length will no longer be determined by the program guide, but rather will record exactly the length of the program. This allows one to record a show to the exact length that the show is presented even if the show runs over its allotted time slot. [0018]In addition, an exemplary embodiment allows for one DVR device to coordinate recording jobs with other DVR devices in a user's network. Thus, a user will be able initially to attempt to schedule the recording of TV shows on a first DVR device. If the show runs over its assigned time slot, and there is no storage space available on the user's control unit or DVR, then the first DVR device will then interact with other DVRs in the user's network. If another DVR device in the network has sufficient storage space available to record the over-run, then the job of recording the over-run portion of the program being recorded will be delegated to the second DVR device. To the end user, recorded TV shows will appear as if the recorded TV shows were recorded on the DVR with which the user is interfacing. [0019]Although DVRs are implemented in the exemplary embodiments presented herein, it is understood that the present invention is not limited to DVRs and is also applicable to other multimedia applications for recording and transmitting video presentations. Further, the following description focuses upon the continued recording of programs that over-run their time slot but it is understood that the header information sensing process applies equally well to determine when a selected program recording begins in the case where the beginning of a program selected for recording either begins ahead of its scheduled start time or later than its scheduled time slot. In either case, the recording, both the beginning and the ending, will be controlled by the detection of header metadata information rather than by the scheduled start and stop times as shown in the video program guide. Continue reading about Automatic completion of media recording... Full patent description for Automatic completion of media recording Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Automatic completion of media recording patent application. Patent Applications in related categories: 20090279847 - Program accumulation apparatus, program accumulation reservation method, and program - A program accumulation apparatus includes: a broadcast program acquisition section to acquire data of a broadcast program based on a preset recording reservation; a delivery program acquisition section to acquire data of a delivery program delivered by a downloading method via a network based on a preset download reservation; a ... 20090279847 - Program accumulation apparatus, program accumulation reservation method, and program - A program accumulation apparatus includes: a broadcast program acquisition section to acquire data of a broadcast program based on a preset recording reservation; a delivery program acquisition section to acquire data of a delivery program delivered by a downloading method via a network based on a preset download reservation; a ... 20090279848 - Reproducing device and reproduction control method - When reproduction of any one of contents on any one of mediums is interrupted, a first video device transmits interruption information to a second video device connecting with a network, and the second video device registers the interruption information in an other-device interruption information management table. When given an instruction ... 20090279848 - Reproducing device and reproduction control method - When reproduction of any one of contents on any one of mediums is interrupted, a first video device transmits interruption information to a second video device connecting with a network, and the second video device registers the interruption information in an other-device interruption information management table. When given an instruction ... ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Automatic completion of media recording or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Data transmission apparatus and data transmission method Next Patent Application: Information recording medium, recording/reproducing apparatus, and recording/reproducing method Industry Class: Television signal processing for dynamic recording or reproducing ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Automatic completion of media recording patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.31795 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Daimler Chrysler , DirecTV , Exxonmobil Chemical Company , Goodyear , Intel , Kyocera Wireless , 174 |
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